Bowling alley approach



Patented Sep-t. 22, 1942 BOWLING ALLEY APPROACH Robert E. Kennedy, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Dela- .Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,367 In Canada July 15,1940

4 Claims. (Cl. 273-51) This invention relates to an improvement in the approach surface of a bowling alley.

One object of the invention is to provide in a bowling alley approach a limited area having a frictional surface to aid the bowler in starting.

Another object is to provide a corrugated or otherwise broken surface adapted to remove grit, sand and other small particles from the shoes of the bowler and thus save wear and tear on the approach section of the alley.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a limited area in the approach section having a surface contrasting with the remaining area for defining a desirable starting point for the bowler.

A further object is to provide a mat removably supported within or adjacent the approach-section having recesses in its surface adapted to collect grit, dirt and other foreign matter, making it easy to get rid of this material by removing the mat bodily and cleansing it before replacement.

And, more particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide in the approach section of a bowling alley a special frame set ush with the surface of the approach and supporting a depressed floor section with a rubber mat thereon having its upper surface flush with that of the approach, and having a plurality of recesses in such upper surface adapted to collect grit, dirt and foreign matter scuifed from the shoes of the bowlers using the alley, whereby removal of the mat from the frame facilitates removal of the dirt thus collected.

While I have shown in the drawing, and shall herein describe in detail, a preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as dened in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the approach section and a fragmentary portion of a bowling alley, with a mat embodying this invention installed in the approach.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the approach section on a larger scale, with a part broken out to condense the view, and with the approach mat installed in position.

Figure 3 is a disassembled perspective View of the parts relating particularly to the invention,

into the frame and the mat to be supported on the floor section` Figure 4 is a detail vertical section on an enlarged scale, taken as indicated at line 4 4 on Figure 2.

In the operation of bowling alleys it is, of course, necessary to clean the approach sections frequently by scrubbing, and sometimes by sanding, or refinishing, but when the full length of the approach is thus resurfaced it may be found undesirably slippery, making it diicult for the average bowler to start the short run-which he usually takes preparatory to releasing the ball. There is also some difculty arising from the fact that many bowlers and beginners start too close to the foul line which separates the approach from the bowling bed proper, with the result that they tend to slide over the foul line onto the polished surface of the alley bed, producing unnecessary wear and tear on this surface, so that considerable work is required to keep it in good condition. Professional bowlers and leagues or teams usually provide themselves with special shoes for use during the game, but many bowling alleys are used the greater portion of the time by individual or open play bowlers who come in for occasional games and do not change from their street shoes. In this way a considerable quantity of dirt, grit, sand, flint and other small refuse may be tracked onto-the approach area of the alley and to some extent on the alley bed, so that unless the alley is carefully cleaned after each game the bed and also the bowling balls may be damaged by the abrasive action of these small, gritty particles.

The present invention provides a rubber mat which is inset in the approach section at a denite distance from the foul line, and which is preferably made with a corrugated upper surface and with other features contributing to the removal of dirt and grit from the shoes of bowlers. Figure 1 indicates a portion of the alley bed at A, with the foul line marked at B, and with the adjoining approach area C in which a mat D is installed in accordance with this invention.

The approach C is usually constructed of planks or rails vof hard wood, such as maple, set on edge and extending lengthwise of the alley, these members being assembled side by side in -close'contact For the purpose of my invention I install in this approach flooring a rectangular frame l, preferably made of the same hard wood as the iioor members of the approach and of the including the frame, the oor section to be set same height, which is usually about three plied by a special rubber mat 4 one-quarter of inch in thickness, and of an areaV dimensioned.

to exactly fit within the frame I. 'Ifhismat may be merely lodged in the depression provided. for

it in the approach area so as-to-be readily remov able therefrom. The standard width of a bowling alley approach is ve feet, and, preferably, the mat 4 is made about threecfeetl long; extending crosswise of the alley and centered in its width, and about one foot Wide in thedirection of the length ofthe alley. The upper surface of the matV 4may be corrugated; withv thev corrugations 5 extending across the alleyso as to afford an effective friction surface for the bowler in making his startonthe approach. In addition, the upper surface has distributed over it; in relatively closev formation, a plurality of' recesses 6 which' maybe-of hexagonal form, as shown in Figure 2. These are not apertures extending clear through the mat'4, but are bottomed'within the body of'the'mat; as' seen in Figure 4.

Preferably, this mat 4L is installed with its center line at'a` distance of fourteen feet, six inches, from* theU foul line B,- thus tending to eliminate the tendency for-the bowler to slide over the foulline as he releases the ball. The location ofthe matcnear the end ofthe approach provides a'silent suggestion to the bowler'to carefully clean his shoes, andeven ifhe gives no thought to the matter,- thecorrugated and recessed surface of-"themat will automatically accomplishn thistoaconsiderable extent. At the same time, the frictionalY nature of the rubber surface, together With'the corrugationsextending crosswse of the alley, insure'easy starting for the bowler, and Wwill h'elp improve hisperformance. It'is'not necessary that-the mat be fastened doWn in place, and since itI is lodgedin a recess there vis nodanger that it -will slip outgof position While in'use; Occasionally itvcan be picked up and`carried'out to be shaken, and, if necessary, rinsed with a hose or scrubbed, to

remove all the particles of dirt and grit which may have been deposited on its surface or in its recesses. This Will keep most of such material from getting onto the approach at all, and will greatly reduce the labor of keeping the approach and the alley in proper condition.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bowling alley approach having a oor area presenting mainly a wood surface with a takeoff mat of resilient material constituting a limited portion of the approach area remote from the foulline, said lmat having a frictional upper surface sety substantially ush with the adjoining surfaceV of the approach.

2. A bowling alley approach having a floor area presenting mainly a Wood surface with a takeoff'mat of resilient'material constituting a limitedportion of the approach area remote from thefoul line, said mat having a frictional upper surface formed with a plurality of closely spaced, upwardly open recesses bottomed'in the body' of the mat'and'said'mat being removably set substantially flush withitheadjoining surface of thc approach.

3; A bowling, alley approach having av floor area presenting mainlyl a wood surface with a take-off mat'of resilient material constituting a limited portion of theA approach areaA remote fromthe foul line, saidmat havingfa corrugated upper surface with its alternating ribs and grooves extending at right angles to thelength of the alley andbeing'form'edwth av pluralityV of closely spaced; upwardly, open recesses bottomed in the body of the mat;

4. A bowling alley approach having a door areapresenting'mainly a-Wood surface, a frame set flush in the approach remoteA from the foul lineand formedwithh an internal, upwardly facing ledge, a floorpanel supported on said` ledge slightly below'the level' of; the adjacent area of the approach, and a resilient mat removablysupported on said panel and fitting snugly within the frame` withv its upperY surface substantially flush with'the adjacent surfaceof the approach, said upper `surface' of' the mat being corrugated With-alternating ribs` andsgrooves extending at rightV angles to Vthe length of the valley and having a-pluralityof lclosely-sp,aced, upwardlyY open reL cesses bottomedin the body 4of the mat.

ROBERT -E. KENNEDY. 

